LATCHING MECHANISM AND BASE CASING OF NOTEBOOK COMPUTER USING THE SAME

• US 20080316694A1
• Filed: 02/22/2008
• Published: 12/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Compal Electronics Incorporated
• Inventors: Hsu, Chun-Ching, Yang, Sheng-Te, Ling, Kuo-Chun, Chiu, Yen-Chieh, Tsai, Jen-Chieh, Fu, Chia-Wei
• Application Number:
  US12/035,440
• Publication Number:
  US 20080316694A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/683
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1679 for locking or maintaining the movable parts of the enclosure in a fixed position, e.g. latching mechanism at the edge of the display in a laptop or for the screen protective cover of a PDA G06F1/1681 takes precedence

Abstract

A latching mechanism for being mounted between a housing and a cover of an electronic device includes a sliding member, a first latching portion, a second latching portion and an elastic member. The sliding member is slidably disposed on the cover and has a pushed portion located at a side of the cover. The first latching portion is fixed to the sliding element. The second latching portion is fixed to the housing and adapted for engaging with the first latching portion. The elastic member is disposed between the sliding member and the cover for providing an elastic force to the sliding member against the cover.

Claims

1. A latching mechanism, for being mounted between a housing and a cover of an electronic device, comprising:

a sliding member slidably disposed on the cover and comprising a pushed portion located on a side of the cover;

a first latching portion fixed to the sliding member;

a second latching portion fixed to the housing, and adapted for engaging with the first latching portion; and

an elastic member disposed between the sliding member and the cover, the elastic member adapted for providing an elastic force to the sliding member against the cover.

2. The latching mechanism in accordance with claim 1, further comprising a position limiter disposed on the cover, adapted for limiting a sliding range of the sliding member.

3. The latching mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the first latching portion and the second latching portion comprises a hook, and the other of the first latching portion and the second latching portion comprises an opening.

4. The latching mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the pushed portion comprises a notch open towards an exterior of the cover.

5. The latching mechanism in accordance with claim 4, wherein the notch is a V-shaped straight notch.

6. The latching mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the elastic member comprises a helical spring attached around a shaft formed on one end of the sliding member.

7. The latching mechanism in accordance with claim 1, wherein the latching mechanism is a sheet shaped latching mechanism.

8. A base casing of a notebook computer, comprising:

a housing;

a cover; and

a latching mechanism mounted between the housing and the cover to assemble the cover to the housing, the latching mechanism comprising;

a sliding member slidably disposed on the cover and comprising a pushed portion located on a side of the cover;

a first latching portion fixed to the sliding member;

a second latching portion fixed to the housing, and adapted for engaging with the first latching portion; and

an elastic member disposed between the sliding member and the cover, the elastic member adapted for providing an elastic force to the sliding member against the cover.

9. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a position limiter disposed on the cover, adapted for limiting a sliding range of the sliding member.

10. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 8, wherein one of the first latching portion and the second latching portion comprises a hook, and the other of the first latching portion and the second latching portion comprises an opening.

11. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the pushed portion comprises a notch open towards an exterior of the cover.

12. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 11, wherein the notch is a V-shaped straight notch.

13. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the elastic member comprises a helical spring attached around a shaft formed on one end of the sliding member.

14. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a receiving slot located on a surface of the cover and adapted for receiving a locking member.

15. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 14, wherein the housing further comprises a battery compartment.

16. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 15, wherein the battery compartment is located in an area of the housing that is projected with the cover in a direction perpendicular to a surface of the cover.

17. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 15, wherein the cover is secured to the housing by the locking member inserting through a bottom wall of the battery compartment and locked to the cover.

18. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 14, wherein the locking member comprises a screw.

19. The base casing of a notebook computer in accordance with claim 8, wherein the latching mechanism is a sheet shaped latching mechanism.